Clash is the fourth entry in our Collision series of IPAs. Each beer in this quadrilogy uses the same grist, prominently features Azacca, and is brewed in a way that combines our favorite attributes of Northeast and West Coast IPAs.

Like its predecessors (Nebulous, Tangled, and... wait for it... Collision), Clash starts with a clean Pilsen malt base, which is softened by a judicious addition of oat malt and flaked wheat. During the boil, we sprinkle in some Waimea, a New Zealand hop that throws off pine and pineapple notes. Then, during whirlpool, Columbus Cryo finds its way into the mix, bringing a little dankness to the party.

We ferment Clash with our House Ale #3, a Vermont-esque strain that throws off peachy esters and punches up an IPA’s hop profile. But in the Collision series, we manipulate fermentation to drive attenuation and dry out the beer. The result is a collision of West Coast crushability and NE fruitiness and softness.

Last but not least, we smash Clash with a hefty dry-hop of Azacca. We have to say, we have been blown away by the two most recent harvests of the Pacific Northwest varietal. This hop has become so expressive — a big ol’ fruit salad of mango, tropical fruit, and citrus. It also plays well with others, and with a smidge more Waimea in the dry-hop, we think this 6.2% IPA radiates serious tropical vibes.